Wenger wins to keep Kanu

Arsenal have won their fight to keep Nwankwo Kanu for Sunday's Premiership clash with Liverpool at Highbury.

Originally, the Nigerian Football Association wanted the striker to join their African Nations Cup squad before the Liverpool clash.

But Kanu asked if he could stay until after the game with Liverpool and he has been given the go-ahead to report next week.

The news is a huge relief to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is without several key players for the game.

Ashley Cole, Ray Parlour and Giovanni van Bronckhorst are all suspended while defender Lauren has joined the Cameroon squad for the tournament in Mali.

Kanu's absence for the fourth-round FA Cup tie with Liverpool the following weekend means Wenger will have to choose between Sylvain Wiltord and Dennis Bergkamp to partner Thierry Henry in attack.

Bergkamp needs no incentive to progress in the FA Cup, as his only taste of FA Cup Final action was in the frantic, dying seconds of last year's defeat by Liverpool.

The Dutchman, ruled out of Arsenal's Double-clinching victory over Newcastle at Wembley in 1998 by injury, went on in the final minute as Arsenal tried to cancel out Michael Owen's two late goals in Cardiff.

Bergkamp barely had time to touch the ball before the whistle went last May but, following yesterday's fourth-round draw, Arsenal must come through the tie of the round if he is to fulfil his ambition to make the starting line-up in the Final.

Bergkamp, who scored Arsenal's fourth goal in a comprehensive 4-2 third-round win atWatford on Saturday, said: "It was basically all over when I went on last year. But I still have that dream. It is always special to play in an FA Cup Final and even from the experience I have had, I know that it is great to be part of it."

The Cup clash will be the third meeting of the two clubs in five weeks.

They met at Anfield two days before Christmas, when Arsenal won 2-1 despite playing much of the game with only 10 men after van Bronckhorst was sent off for diving.

Arsenal's approach at Watford played a significant part in helping them through. Bergkamp said: "Everyone knows in the FA Cup it doesn't matter what division you play in, all teams have a chance.

"There are many examples when big teams have gone out in the third round to a lower division team. That can happen in the FA Cup and you have to stay motivated - as we were at Watford. You focus in every game, no matter who it is against, just as if you are playing a big team. That should put you through."

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